1851 $1 Restrike PR62 NGC. Ex: Richmond Collection. The 1851
Seated dollar is a confusing date in the series, whose
understandability is hampered even more by the infrequency that
these pieces were offered. In short, there were 1,300 business
strikes produced. That is certain, but after that matters become
more cloudy. Allegedly original proofs were struck, but Bowers
claims these are really misattributed restrikes or first-strike
business strikes. It appears that some 50-100 restrikes were
produced in 1858 or later to satisfy collector demand for this
date. Much has been made about the centering of the date or its
closeness to the rock above the exergual area, but until someone
proves definitively that a true, non-die clashed proof with a high
date exists, we will assume that the few proofs that are known are
all restrikes.
This is a modestly mirrored example that has light, golden-tan
toning over each side. A few small contact marks are located in the
fields, the most notable are seen to the right of Liberty's shin,
another to the left of the eagle's beak, and a third below the left
leg of the second A in AMERICA. A lovely example of this very rare
and highly sought-after Seated dollar. Census: 5 in 62, 8 finer
(6/06).(Registry
values: N7079) (NGC ID# 2524, PCGS# 6993)